Board Policies

The following article highlights 2 concerns I have about BOE policies:

1. When policies are changed or created, the BOE always asks for public comment before final approval of the change or new policy. However, it's very hard for the community to find what they are being asked to comment on. And that's IF they even know they are being asked to provide feedback. We need an easy system to let everyone know that the BOE wants their feedback about a policy or change, an easy system to access the relevant information about the policy or change, and an easy system for providing that feedback.[3/20/16 update: Since posting this, I have been successful in making this process a little bit easier. See Public Comment.]

2. The current BOE majority sometimes favors very brief policy statements that often amount to no more than saying, "We have a policy about _____ , see the regulations for details." and then allowing the Superintendent to essentially write the policy through his regulations. As a board, one of our major responsibilities is to make policy. Allowing the Superintendent to essentially write policy through his regulations is abdicating a basic BOE responsibility. Some BOE members argue that it is too hard and takes too long to make policy changes (due to the multiple steps required) and it is much easier to just let the Superintendent change the regulations. Well, policy changes are supposed to take time and the process is supposed to be transparent. It is during that time that the community learns about the proposed change and has the opportunity to voice their concern or support.

Here's a Herald-Mail article by Julie Greene that appeared onWednesday, February 24, 2016

BOE member concerned that public lacks information about policies

By JULIE E. GREENE

Washington County Board of Education member Melissa Williams expressed concern Tuesday about the public’s lack of opportunity to learn about and comment on proposed changes to board policies before they come up for final approval.

Williams also said she thought the board was “abdicating” its authority to develop policy to the school system’s superintendent, who writes regulations for which the public has no opportunity to provide input.

The concerns were raised during a morning Policy Committee meeting at Washington County Public Schools’ Downsville Pike office complex.

When the seven-member board considers proposed changes to policies, it votes on a first reading and a final second reading at a later date. Often, when the board’s chief legal counsel presents the changes to the panel for final approval, he reports that there were no public comments on the matter.

Williams said she has heard from some residents who don’t know how to find proposed policy changes online so they can ask questions or offer comments.

The proposed policy changes are in “BoardDocs,” a section of the school system’s website that provides documentation about existing policies and regulations, as well as presentation documents about matters that the board discusses at its work sessions and business meetings.

Policy Committee members discussed possible ways to make proposed policy changes easier to find, including newspaper advertising and providing information about them on the school system’s homepage. They asked to have the system’s public-information officer look into the issue.

Regarding regulations that are developed based on board policies, board member and committee Chairwoman Jacqueline Fischer said there were instances in the past few years when she thought administrative regulations were extensive and covered more things that should be in the policies.

Chief Legal Counsel Anthony Trotta said if the school board thinks an administrative regulation exceeds what is in the policy, it can vote to rescind the regulation.

If the committee and the board think a policy should be longer or shorter, it’s up to the board to decide that, Trotta said.

Administrative regulations are rules the superintendent develops that outline how policies are to be implemented.

“Regulations are written in concert with the superintendent, and approved by the superintendent,” school system spokesman Richard Wright wrote Tuesday in an email to Herald-Mail Media.

Board President Donna Brightman, the third member of the Policy Committee, also was at the meeting.